The fashion retailer, which also sells in House of Fraser, Selfridges and John Lewis, said sales grew by 18.3 per cent in the eight weeks to January 4. With new stores and expansions stripped out, sales grew by around 7.9 per cent.

But the figures include online sales as well as results from its overseas operations such as in Hong Kong, Canada and Turkey.

Festive cheer: The upbeat figures include online sales as well as results from its overseas

The company said it could not provide UK-only figures for the festive period. Shares, which have risen 92 per cent in 12 months, fell 2.5 per cent to finish 70p lower at 2230p.

It came as New Look, which offered discounts of up to 50 per cent before Christmas, said its sales rose 1.5 per cent.